Control casing head



Dec. 29, 1931. w; D. SHAFFER 1,838,503

CONTROL CASING HEAD Filed Oct. 9, 1929 ATTORNEY:

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6 Fq' .Z & -2 5 \W INVENTOR, Wz'ZZ-z' 0, 7? r- Patented Dec. 29, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. SHAFFER, OF BREA, CALIFORNIA CONTROL GASIZNG HEAD v Application filed October 9, 1929. Serial- No. 398,403.

This invention relates to oil field equipment and more especially to a control casing head for attachment to a well string of pipe, tubing or drill stems whereby the well can be closed off at will in a short period of time lvlvhlile the string or strings are in the well or It is very desirable to provide casing head means whereby a string of tubing in a well can be positively gripped by reliable "means at any point along a section between collars and suspended by the gripping means independent of any associated packing, and, in combination with the suspending means, to provide a capping device to facilitate quick and ready connection with head flow apparatus positioned above the upper end of the suspended string. Such a capping device, combined with the supporting means, enables cutting ofi the upper end of the suspended string close to the support and provides for attachment of the out-flow control without regard to the upper terminal of the tubing.

Therefore, it is an object of my present invention to improve casing head shut-off packers so that there is no load of string whatever imposed on the sealing medium; to provide for the renewal of packing at any time without disturbing the string being packed; to provide for the gripping of the string at any point along its sections and eliminate the practice of hang-up by resting of a collar joint on the packing device, and

provide a device attached to a casing head to cap the tubing without connection therewith and adapted for attachment to the outflow control or Christmas tree.

Additional objects, advantages and details of construction and combination will be made manifest in the ensuing description of the herewith illustrative embodiment, it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, spirit and principle of the invention as it is more directly claimed herein after, and which consists of the apparatus set forth and equivalent embodiments thereof.

Figure 1 is an axial section and elevational view.

Figure 2 is a plan of a sectional packing collar. 7

Figure 3 is a plan of suspending slip means of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a packing head member 2 with a nipple 3 to be screwed into a coupling 4 as of a casing C in which is spaced a pipe P which it is desirable to pack )0 oil at the head 2.

The pipe P is supported by a set of toothed slips, 5 with conical outer faces setting on a conical seat 6 which is provided in the upper end of the head 2 which has an externally c5 threaded neck 7 above a shoulder flange 8 which is perforated to receive bolts 9.

On the shoulder flange 8 is butted the base flange of a cap 12 which has a reduced, threaded upper end 13 for attachment of 1 any desired fitting, as a Christmas tree, or other outletvmeans.

The rim of the neck 7 has a packing groove 13a with a packing ring 14 on which bears an annular gland 15 having an interior packing ledge 16 for a multipiece ring 17 supporting a body of compressible packing material 18 between the pipe P and the shell of the gland 15; this latter being externally threshed at 19 to receive a follower 20.-

The follower 20 has an inturned flange 21 which overlaps a multipiece presser ring 22 hearing down on the packing 18 to compress it about the pipe and in the gland 15.

In operation the pipe P is elevated to the desired point in the head 2 and the slips are dropped into place on their seat 6 with the result that they instantly contract onto the pipe face. The pipe is then slacked up so flhaigl its load is thrown onto the slips and the ea a The pipe thus supported can be cut oil at X at a line within the cap 12, as no coupling collar in the pipe line is needed to hang up the pipe on the head; this being done by the s ips.

The gland 15 is next applied and is clamped by a presser sleeve 23 screwed on the neck 7.

Split collar 17 is now placed in the gland 15 and packing 18 stuffed in and multipart enough to pass the ring 22 is placed on the packing, and is compressed by the now applied followers 20,

The rings 17-22 are split so-that they can i be assembled about the pipe which may be burred by the cutting tools.

The parts 15 and 21 have bores large burred pipe end.

Thus no pipe load is placed on the packing body and this can be changed or taken out at any time without disturbing the pipe hung on and by the slips 5.

Under the flange 8 the head 2 is provided with vent outlets 20 for gases arising in the casing.

What is claimed is:

A tubular casing head body having an external table flange thereabout and having an upstanding neck presenting a conical seat, a set of tube gripping slips on the seat, a packer assembly for a hung tube abutted on the rim of said neck and having a draw down connection therewith, and an outer Christmas tree shell secured directly to said flange and spaced from and surrounding said neck and said packing assembly and the upper end of a tube hung by the slips; the packing being accessible and removable independently of the hung tube, and all strains and stresses being carried by the shell directly to the head body, thus protecting the packing, against vibration and strains.

-W]LLIAM D. SHAFFER. 

